[Variety and differences in activity of benzodiazepines (author's transl)]

Benzodiazepines have been used on a large scale for the past 20 years. They include numerous compounds which, owing to their diverse properties--sedative, tranquillizing and anxiolytic, muscle relaxing, hypnotic, anti-epileptic--have many indications. These proprieties depend on a variety of factors, such as molecular structure, possible dosage range, pharmacokinetics or metabolism, which condition therapeutic applications. Half-life is particularly important nowadays to determine optimal intervals between doses and to select the most appropriate drug for treating insomnia and the various forms of anxiety. Anxiety should be treated when it results in inhibitions, and products with prolonged half-life should be prescribed when it is structured. In addition, many pharmacological and clinical studies suggest that some benzodiazepines act selectively on certain symptoms.